Orange Is The New Black season 6 review: Hilarious, emotionally brutal, a strong comeback

ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK season 6 arrived on Netflix today and the new series looks like the most intense yet. The series is funny, chilling and challenging as Orange Is The New Black returns to its roots in a new location.

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“I saw nothing”, Suzanne ‘Crazy Eyes’ Warren says staring directly into the camera in the opening seconds of episode one of OITNB season six.

Followed by a weird and at times funny fantasy sequence of Suzanne’s hallucinations, already the show is combining humour whilst simultaneously referencing serious issues faced by women in prison today.

The fantasy sequence grants an insight into how bad Suzanne is suffering due to the bad healthcare provided by the prison as she has been refused her medicine that controls her hallucinations and erratic behaviour.

Inmates are in supermax in Orange Is The New Black season 6 (Image: NETFLIX)

The show’s famous all-female cast has some new faces introduced in the first episode, sadistic Badison (played by Amanda Fuller) and Daddy (Vicci Martinez) making it sometimes hard to keep up the growing ensemble.

Recurring favourites from the previous seasons are not given enough time in the spotlight. Big Boo (Lea DeLaria) Maritza (Diane Guerrero) and Yoga Jones (Constance Schulman) make almost cameo-like appearances which taint the show with slight disappointment.

Eagle-eyed fans would have noticed in the Netflix trailers and teasers the absence of Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). Fans will need to wait till further in the season to find out her fate.

Nevertheless, the absence of community that was present in the Litchfield camp is noticeable but the family bond the women have has never been stronger.

The new series has a more serious tone which can be tough to watch at times but this time around it manages to almost keep the balance between humour and darkness.

There are moments of hilarity from the inmates, the first episode featuring a cameo appearance from DJ Casper, famous for 2000 hit The Cha Cha slide dancing with season four inmate, Lolly (Lori Petty).

The first two episodes have most of the scenes featuring Latino characters Gloria and Blanca shot in Spanish which adds a nice authenticity to the show.

OITNB cast as you've NEVER seen them before

Orange is the New Black: Here are the cast members of hit Netflix series OITNB out of prison and all dressed up.

OITNB is known for its social commentary and this season draws attention to important issues such as mental health, suicide and police brutality all raised immediately in episode one.

There is also reference to racism, the immigration policies of Donald Trump, Black Lives Matter and prison reform.

The introduction of two rival sisters Carol (Henny Russell) and Barbara (Mackenzie Phillips) provides a new plot twist. However, their story highlights the harsh conditions for inmates part of American for-profit prison system and the opioid crisis in America.

The first few episodes delve deep into the harsh realities of living in a supermax facility such as overcrowding, violence and corruption.

Be prepared for emotionally-brutal moments and hard-watching scenes of misogynist power-hungry prison guards who beat female inmates for no other reason than for their own entertainment.

Season six has a much more realistic take on the prison experience laced with hilarity, female empowerment and political and socially charged messages.

Orange Is The New Black has never been more relevant and season six is something you don’t want to miss.